4 ms·

Can you connect it to USB-C/Thunderbolt monitor/dock and use it with keyboard and mouse?

by sccxy 7mo ago

znpy 7mo ago
I was about to ask the same. I'd like to get an ipad for the same purpose. The iPad pro can for sure, but I don't want to spend ipad pro money.
rllearneratwork 7mo ago
yes. Has been possible since at least M1. Buy M-based iPad, nice monitor, keyboard and mouse. Connect mouse and keyboard to monitor via USB. Then iPad via USB-C/Thunderbolt to monitor. Everything "just works" and you can handle surprisingly high amount of work this way
- eagerpace 7mo ago
  Can you share more about this experience please? To me, you're still left with apps that are designed for a touchscreen and consumption.
  - konart 7mo ago
    If you are using an iPad as a second screen - you get the same app you have on your mac (obviously, iPad just acts as a second screen: https://support.apple.com/en-us/102597 https://support.apple.com/en-us/102597). If you are using an external keyboard and a mouse with it - you will get the same touch UI, yes.
  - thinkling 7mo ago
    Many apps are missing many keyboard shortcuts that you may be used to if you’ve used the equivalent on the desktop. You’ll need to keep the iPad screen accessible to tap on UX elements. There’s also the issue that shortcuts that do exist may be hard to discover because there’s no menu bar to look in.
    - spectre3d 7mo ago
      > Many apps are missing many keyboard shortcuts that you may be used to This is true. To see the ones that are available, hold down the command ⌘ key to get a scrollable list of all of the shortcuts for the app you’re currently using, and use Fn-m or globe key-m to see a list of the system shortcuts.
- SenHeng 7mo ago
  It's been possible since the iPad 2. I used to code HTML/CSS that way back in... 2011?
- sccxy 7mo ago
  Specs show that Pro models got Thunderbolt and Air only got USB-C. Very vague specs. Can iPad Air USB-C deliver 4k 120hz or how much bandwidth that USB-C got?
jeroenhd 7mo ago
Has been for a while, assuming you can get work done on the iPad UI. It doesn't do a normal mouse and there are some limitations to things like screen dimensions. Works in a pinch but Apple is not going to compete with themselves on this front, they're expecting you to buy a macbook for serious work and an iPad for work in a pinch.
ivanjermakov 7mo ago
Had no problems connecting iPad Air 4 to external display via USB-C DP. Have not check whether periphery devices work this way though - I used BLE keyboard.

Can you connect it to USB-C/Thunderbolt monitor/dock and use it with keyboard and mouse?

by sccxy 7mo ago

Can you connect it to USB-C/Thunderbolt monitor/dock and use it with keyboard and mouse?

znpy 7mo ago

I was about to ask the same. I'd like to get an ipad for the same purpose. The iPad pro can for sure, but I don't want to spend ipad pro money.

rllearneratwork 7mo ago

yes. Has been possible since at least M1. Buy M-based iPad, nice monitor, keyboard and mouse. Connect mouse and keyboard to monitor via USB. Then iPad via USB-C/Thunderbolt to monitor. Everything "just works" and you can handle surprisingly high amount of work this way

eagerpace 7mo ago
Can you share more about this experience please? To me, you're still left with apps that are designed for a touchscreen and consumption.
- konart 7mo ago
  If you are using an iPad as a second screen - you get the same app you have on your mac (obviously, iPad just acts as a second screen: https://support.apple.com/en-us/102597 https://support.apple.com/en-us/102597). If you are using an external keyboard and a mouse with it - you will get the same touch UI, yes.
- thinkling 7mo ago
  Many apps are missing many keyboard shortcuts that you may be used to if you’ve used the equivalent on the desktop. You’ll need to keep the iPad screen accessible to tap on UX elements. There’s also the issue that shortcuts that do exist may be hard to discover because there’s no menu bar to look in.
  - spectre3d 7mo ago
    > Many apps are missing many keyboard shortcuts that you may be used to This is true. To see the ones that are available, hold down the command ⌘ key to get a scrollable list of all of the shortcuts for the app you’re currently using, and use Fn-m or globe key-m to see a list of the system shortcuts.
SenHeng 7mo ago
It's been possible since the iPad 2. I used to code HTML/CSS that way back in... 2011?
sccxy 7mo ago
Specs show that Pro models got Thunderbolt and Air only got USB-C. Very vague specs. Can iPad Air USB-C deliver 4k 120hz or how much bandwidth that USB-C got?

jeroenhd 7mo ago

Has been for a while, assuming you can get work done on the iPad UI. It doesn't do a normal mouse and there are some limitations to things like screen dimensions. Works in a pinch but Apple is not going to compete with themselves on this front, they're expecting you to buy a macbook for serious work and an iPad for work in a pinch.

ivanjermakov 7mo ago

Had no problems connecting iPad Air 4 to external display via USB-C DP. Have not check whether periphery devices work this way though - I used BLE keyboard.